John Wesley & Minerva "Walker" Finney

John Wesley Finney was born on September 30, 1804 to George
and Phoebe Puckett Finney in Russell Co., VA. "He was very fair with light
brown hair and blue eyes."
John Wesley Finney married Minerva Adkins Walker (Townsend) (Burkes) on
September 9, 1836, in Barry Co., MO. Minerva was already twice a widow with
seven children. By 1849 John and Minerva had 8 children of their own, the
last two born in Carroll Co., AR.
Minerva Adkins Walker was born on April 17, 1806, in Wilson Co., TN. She
left home to marry William Townsend in 1821. They had two children in Jackson
Co., AL before William died in March 1825.
Minerva returned home to her parents' displeasure and was married to a
man more of their choosing, Mr. George Burkes. The marriage took place in
Jackson Co., AL and after giving Minerva five more children, George died in
Sept 1834 near Cassville, Barry Co., MO.
In 1850, John Wesley Finney left AK with a step-son-in-law, John Locke, and
headed to California with "two Indian ponies..." He returned home and in
1857 the family headed west with ox teams and wagons. They arrived in CA
near Placerville.
On Sept 3, 1889, John Wesley Finney was killed while driving a team across the
railroad track near Stockton, CA. Minerva died on Aug 6, 1897 at her
daughter's home near Stockton, CA.